by David Smith
At that instant Ottershaw received the targeting data from Lieutenant Janus on the Bridge and fed it down the umbilical into the torpedo’s flight computer.
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On the Bridge, Dave waited impotently, hoping against hope that somehow, someone in the Torpedo Bay was still doing their job. Lyle had slowed the ship to just above light speed, but they were very close to the target now and Lyle had already spun the ship through one hundred and eighty degrees so they could fire a torpedo backwards at the last possible moment after they’d passed the target.
They all watched the tactical display on the view-screen in absolute silence as Tiger passed the target and began heading away from it. Dave couldn’t believe it, they’d come all this way to fall at the last hurdle.
“Target will be outside torpedo range in ten seconds” said Lyle quietly.
In the silence there was a barely audible beep and a single green light flashed on the Tactical Console: “Sir, we have a torpedo!!” yelled Janus.
Thank you, Lord!! Thought Dave and shouted “FIRE!!”
There was a thump, much louder than usual and warning lights began bleeping everywhere just as the Red Alert Klaxon sounded “Warning! Hull Breach, Deck Twelve, Warning! Fire, Deck Twelve…….”
The noise washed over them as Lyle said, “Target out of range. We’ve failed.”
At almost the same instant, O’Mara at the Science Station shouted “Subspace disturbance to port, something is coming straight at us really fast!”
Dave sat immobile: the Commodore didn’t need to spring a surprise attack, they’d already failed ……..
O’Mara tried to put up a visual, but the incoming vessel was near invisible, just a barely discernible black blur against the deeper blackness of space.
“What the hell …… is that a cloaked ship??” murmured Dave.
Whatever it was streaked past Tiger at an enormous speed, and the Bridge Crew could only watch dumb-founded as two tiny spangles of light sprang out of nowhere, sped into the asteroid belt and obliterated target number twenty with a perfect hit, just seconds before the countdown clock ticked over to zero, marking the end of the exercise.
Chapter 10
Dave sat on the bridge, immobile and uncomprehending. What the hell had just happened?
Had he just had some kind of exhaustion induced hallucination?
“Did anyone else see that?” he asked quietly.
“If “that” was an invisible space ship that just travelled past us at an impossibly high speed and took out the target we missed ….. well ….. yeah ….. I guess?” said an equally immobile and confused Lieutenant Janus.
“Either that, or we just had a spectacular, hysteria induced common hallucination?” added O’Mara. “Maybe we all went completely mad when our torpedo failed to launch?”
Dave thought about this for a few seconds before it soaked through his exhausted brain “Oh Crap! What happened in the Torpedo Bay????”
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Thirty seconds later, he stepped into the mangled remains of the Torpedo bay on Deck 13.
Commander Mengele had beaten him to it and was treating Yeoman Sriwak on the floor of the compartment for some nasty looking burns. Yeoman Barnes was propped up against the foot of the torpedo tubes nursing a very badly gashed arm, with blood oozing from her ears. A dazed Billy Ottershaw was leaned over the Torpedo Programming Console, bleeding heavily from a nasty cut on his head. Scattered around the compartment Dave could also see the unconscious figures of PO Ionescu, PO Woodson, and Crewmen Doyle and Davis.
The compartment stank of burning plastic and hastily released fire suppressants. The door of one of the tubes had shattered, and chunks of it hung limply from the one remaining intact hinge. An emergency force-field sparkled in the torpedo tube saving them all from the vacuum of space, but it was still deeply unnerving to be able to see the blackness outside the ship.
Looking at the back of the compartment, the neat uniform racking that held the torpedoes had been reduced to a tangled mass of scrap metal, and from somewhere within the birds-nest of twisted steel struts, Dave could hear worrying hissing noises.
Ottershaw was the only crew member still on his feet, and Dave asked him what had happened.
Dazed and confused, Ottershaw answered as best he could.
“Had a loading accident, sir. Lost Ionescu, Woodson, Doyle and Davis. BOLLOCKS!! I had to get the fuuuuu …… ffff ….. fuuhhhuuhhuuu ….. Yeomen to load the tube while I downloaded the BOLLOCKS!!!! target data. I didn’t have time to check what they were doing. ARSEHOLES!!! They got everything right but I think they loaded the torpedo into the tube back-to-front? I didn’t think that was possible, but they seem to have found a way bless ’em. DICKS!! ASS-WIPES!! KNOB-HEADS!!!”
The torpedo was normally launched out of the tube by a small pyrotechnic device at the rear, so it was clear of the ship before its main propulsion systems cut in. It had never occurred to anyone that torpedoes might need a sign on them saying “This end forward”, but then, it was quite likely no-one had ever considered a scenario whereby a Yeoman might be trusted to load a torpedo.
Peering through the tangled wreckage of the stowage frames he could see a massively dented black lump, still hissing and smoking, that had probably once been a torpedo.
He was just glad that no-one had been killed, and that the safety protocols that prevented the torpedo from going live before it was clear of the ship had operated correctly. If it hadn’t, Tiger wouldn’t have needed to go to a breakers yard, the torpedo would have completed the demolition job.
And there was still the possibility that they may have somehow actually completed the test.
Commander Chamberlain walked into the compartment at that moment, and surveyed the damage incredulously. “Well I don’t know how you did it Hollins, but Range Control confirmed all twenty targets were bagged within the allocated hour. I’ve forwarded my report to the Commodore for his review, but to my mind you passed all the tests set. Congratulations, Commander you can ……. “
“Bridge to Commander Chamberlain.”
“Chamberlain here, go ahead.”
“You’ve have an incoming call from the Commodore, Commander.”
She tensed and replied “I’ll take it here, thank you.”
Up on the Bridge, the Ensign at the Comms Station directed to call to the comm-set in the Torpedo Bay.
The Commodore was in no mood to mince words: “What do you mean “They passed”?!?” he spluttered.
Chamberlain looked apologetically at Dave, and took a deep breath before answering “All twenty targets were identified, engaged and destroyed using torpedoes within a sixty minute period, whilst travelling at supra-light velocities, Commodore. Those were the only requirements of this test sir.”
“Well I think it goes without saying that the ship undertaking the test has to destroy the targets and from the telemetry I was reading, Tiger didn’t destroy the last target, she never even launched a torpedo!”
“Well it isn’t actually stated that the ship undertaking the test has to ……. “ Chamberlain began, but the Commodore cut her off bluntly.
“Shut-up Chamberlain or I’ll put you on an insubordination charge. I’ve got one of our tugs recovering the second torpedo from that last target and as soon as we check its serial number we’ll know who made the attack and have proof it wasn’t Tiger that scored the hit. I’ll personally take care of the transfer of that bloody ship to the breaker’s list …… “
A muffled voice interrupted the Commodore and he stopped and said “Yes, patch it through, I’m looking forward to this.”
Dave slumped. He thought they’d got away with it somehow, and Chamberlain turned to him and said “Sorry, I thought he’d miss that. I’ve never, ever known him to check on the telemetry so I thought we could ….. “
She stopped as in the background she heard the Commodore’s voice rise on the still open comm-link “What do you mean, it’s their
torpedo?? Check again ……. I don’t care, check again, or better still get someone who can bloody read to check it!!!”
The Commodore’s voice was now a good octave higher than it had been and much, much louder “It can’t be, I was watching the telemetry myself!!!”
There was a pause before the Commodore continued, and it was clear that he hadn’t heard what he wanted to hear “IT’S IMPOSSIBLE!!!! CHECK IT AGAIN!!” he roared “WELL CHECK AND KEEP CHECKING UNTIL YOU GET IT RIGHT ……… YES I CAN SEE THE BLOODY DATA YOU’VE SENT ME AND I DON’T CARE!!! THAT SHIP WILL PASS ITS REVALIDATION OVER MY DEAD BODY!!!!!”
The Commodore’s voice suddenly reduced to a strangled, gurgling sound and Chamberlains eyes widened. Dashing to the comm-set she called the Transporter Room “Chamberlain here, I need emergency transport to the Commodore’s quarters on Arcturus Station, NOW!!”
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Chamberlain looked as tired as Dave felt.
They were in the Sick-bay of Arcturus Station, where the staff had stabilized the Commodore.
“Yeah, he’ll be fine. It was a stress-induced heart attack, but the Doc tells me it wasn’t too serious. She did add that it’s a warning shot, especially at his age, and that she’ll be recommending that he’s posted to a less stressful environment for his own well-being.”
“So you’re in charge then?” asked Dave hopefully.
“Yes, I’m in charge, and yes, Tiger has passed her revalidation tests …… “ she waited patiently, with just a hint of a smile on her face as Dave leapt around the room shouting and hollering in delight.
Once he’d calmed down, she continued. “I’ll give Tiger a clean bill of health and recommend to Admiral O’Connor that she’s returned to full service pending minor repairs. I’ll also clear the judicial hearings for your crew that are still in the Brig so you can get underway, and arrange for the parts you need for repairs to be provided before you go.”
“Thank you so much Commander, you wouldn’t believe how much this means to me” said Dave earnestly.
“It’s been my pleasure, Commander. Now if you excuse me, I have a back-log of tests to arrange for the rest of the fleet now that the Commodore’s not in a position to try and shaft you any more” she smiled and turned towards the door.
As she got there, she stopped, and turned back “One thing, Hollins. I’d hate myself if I didn’t ask. Tiger didn’t fire that torpedo, I know that much. So how in hell did you get that hit?”
Dave realised he didn’t have any better idea than she did, but hated to have to spoil the air of mystique around him and his ship, so he shrugged and replied “I couldn’t possibly say Commander.”
She laughed and strolled out the door “Have it your way Hollins. Either way, I hope we meet again sometime.”
Chapter 11
Dave wasn’t going to let a little thing like incomprehension spoil his day. If his time aboard Tiger had taught him one thing, it was that sometimes ignorance is bliss.
He headed back to the Bridge and found Yeoman Amaya de Soto waiting by the Captain’s Chair. The sultry latina had recently recovered from concussion and a badly dislocated hip. She had been off duty for several months to ensure she was completely fit (being directly under the Captain was always physically demanding), and was now at the head of the duty roster.
Dave immediately noticed that her dress was on back to front, but didn’t have the heart to tell her. She dutifully handed him a pad, which contained instructions from the Captain. Dave pressed his thumb on the screen which opened up the sealed instructions.
“Inform me when we get to Arcturus.”
“Ps. You have the Bridge”
He sighed and handed the pad back to the disheveled Yeoman. “Thank you de Soto, has the Captain read any of the status reports I’ve sent in the last month?”
“They’re on his list of things to do, sir” she said with a knowing smile.
Along with (but below) nineteen Yeomen, Dave surmised.
After the Yeoman had left with the pad, updated yet again with the week’s status report, Dave turned and asked Lieutenant Shearer to connect him to the Ship’s general broadcast circuit.
“This is the First Officer. I’m proud to be able to tell you that we have successfully completed our revalidation tests. USS Tiger is part of the Third Fleet again. Congratulations to you all on a job well done, and thank you for justifying my faith in you and our ship. We’ll await further instructions from Command, but in the meantime, all restrictions on shore-leave are cancelled. Go enjoy yourselves, you deserve it.”
He closed the line, then hurriedly opened it again “Please try not to get arrested! Hollins out.”
He looked around the exhausted but smiling, relieved faces on the Bridge. “Well done team, you’ve all been outstanding and I’ll make note of that in my report to Command. You’re all relieved, go get some R&R.”
They all cheered, laughing and smiling as they left the Bridge. Janus was the last to leave “By the way sir, just for the record, Lieutenant Lyle was teasing you the other day. My first name is Dylan, not Hugh!”
Dave was too tired to understand but apologised anyway. Once they’d all left, he handed over the conn to Dolplop before heading to his quarters where he slept for twenty hours straight.
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He was woken by a hail from the relief Officer at the Comms Station.
“Sorry to disturb you sir, you have an incoming call from Admiral O'Connor"
"Put it through, please." said Dave, trying to shake the sleepiness out of his head.
The image of the Commander in Chief of the Federation’s Third Fleet appeared on the small screen beside Dave's bunk. "Well Hollins, I've been hearing things. I would say good things, but according the Range Adjutant, the jury is still out on that count."
"You've spoken to Commander Chamberlain?" Dave was surprised that the Admiral hadn't gone straight to the Commodore.
"Of course! I wouldn't waste time talking to old Bone-head B'Stard. The only reason I never assigned him to Tiger was because he was already a Commodore somehow, and that's too high a rank for a single ship. He's such a complete moron I actually gave consideration to sending another ship to Sector 244 just to create a local flotilla so I could get him out of Head Quarters.”
“Fortunately, a position came up at Arcturus where I could put in a decent officer to keep him from causing too much chaos. So when I want to know something I go straight to said "decent officer", which Commander Devon Chamberlain most definitely is." He paused, a slight show of concern flickering across his face.
"Did you see the medical report on B'Stard? I'm going to have to retire him medically for the sake of his own health. I can't tell you what a relief that is to everyone that knows him! Apart from his poor wife, that is. She’s going to have that idiot at home all the time from now on. I feel terribly for her. Still, it's done now. Did Chamberlain tell you I offered her promotion to Captain and the position of Range Warden?"
"No sir. My dealings with the Commander over the last couple of days have really been limited to discussions of Range and exercise requirements." Dave admitted.
"She turned me down!! You may have started a trend with that, Hollins." Before Dave could apologise, the Admiral continued with a smile "Actually, it turns out she was impressed by the way you've turned the Tiger around and she's decided that's what she wants her future to be: she wants to be Commander of her own vessel. Since a certain other Officer rudely declined my offer of a command position, I'm giving her the big seat on USS Higgs, which is now complete and working up. I think she's going to make a superb Commanding Officer."
"I couldn't possibly argue with that assessment sir" Dave replied. Some people just oozed competence and command authority, and Devon Chamberlain was definitely one of them.
"I expect you'll be a great Captain too, when you get the chance, Hollins."
"That's very kind of you to say Admiral, but I'd be nowhere without the crew behind me" s
aid Dave modestly.
"Very true Hollins, and knowing that is one of the hallmarks of a good officer. Impressive though that is, it pales into insignificance against your achievement in getting Tiger through a full revalidation programme. I'll be honest, when we made the agreement six months ago, I thought it was impossible. Reading between the lines of Chamberlain's reports, Ol' ToTo wasn't taking any prisoners with his missions, which makes the achievement all the more spectacular" confided O'Connor.
"It was a real team effort, Admiral. The crew were magnificent .... "
"Well, about eighty percent of them were, Hollins: I've also seen the disciplinary reports" cautioned the Admiral.
"Ah. Well. In their defence ..... "
"Don't sweat it Hollins, it's all sorted and they're all off the hook. Even your Helmsman, who, by the way, is now officially assigned to Tiger."
"Thank you Admiral!"
"So, anyway, I called to say congratulations Hollins, you won fair and square. I'm a man of my word, and I've already accepted Tiger back on fleet lists as an active asset of the Third Fleet. Your duty station is still patrol of Sector 244, but before you head back, I've authorised Arcturus Station to assist you with any and all repairs to the ship as are necessary. I hear your Torpedo Bay is something of a mess?"
"Thank you sir, Tiger could do with a little TLC."
"Well get it while the offers there, Hollins, there isn't a base with facilities to match Arcturus Station within a dozen Sectors of 244. I've also approved transfer of three shuttles to replace the units your crew have busted up. I'm not replacing the other three. I hear that they're very ...... serviceable" O'Connor added.
"Thank you Admiral, they'll be most welcome."
"Don't break them, Hollins."
"We'll play nicely, sir!"
"Good. Well, I'll let you get on. I'm not putting a deadline on Tiger's return to Sector 244, I'll let your conscience dictate that, but don’t let it drag on. I appreciate that you and your crew have earned a little downtime, but there are things kicking off in Sector 193 that will put pressure on the Third Fleet and all of its personnel, so don’t be taking things too easy. Congratulations again, Commander! I suspect we'll be speaking again soon. O'Connor out."